New Zealand!

Like always, I'll try to keep it short, knowing that I'll fail miserably.

I arrived two days early in Christchurch, to walk around and realise that it wasn't my kind of place. Grey and boring, but I might've been biased due to the weather.

The trip started on Friday the 17th with 13 people in our group in a small bus, with Ozzie Sue as our guide. The first stop was a short track to a waterfall. I was the only one stupid enough to think that it would be nice weather in New Zealand, so it was me carrying an umbrella and the others in raincoats. We had done our introductions in the bus and repeated it in the evening. No dominant characters at all!The group was looking good, especially when I was able to get a few people to join me for a few drinks in the pub next door:)

The next day I went 'bone carving' with a few of the group. It took me 3 hours to make the necklace, while under attack by sandflies, a good reason to wear it everyday since;) We did a lot of short walks, but too many during this trip to mention them all.                                                  On the 19th we did a 1/2 day glacier hike in Franz Josef. Amazing the blue colour of the ice, unfortunately not great weather. By the end of it we were knackered. We went out that evening after we all tried to balance a spoon on our nose, It didn't happen.

Rain, rain and more rain. We went to Milford sound and didn't even leave the harbour. We played games (monopoly, never again and Fact or Crap) but had the most fun altering them. The next morning the boat did go for a trip and unfortunately that caused me to be standing on the outside with a bag puking, 2 long hours!. It only get's that rough a few times a year, but that info didn't do me any good. 

That afternoon we went to Queenstown. The practising honeymooners, Ollie, Lisa and I went to do the Canyon swing. I did it upside down. It was AWESOME! But you'll just have to see the dvd. Or look Nevis Arc Canyon swing up on the web. We played '3 Truths & a lie' that evening. Gosh, we had SO much fun! One girl had a meeting and left hers with Sue and the oldest one went to bed to avoid the game. Well, you all know me.... there was no avoiding. I simply made up her 3 truths and the lie. A few were in on it and I almost pissed myself laughing, since it didn't sounded like her at all and the facial expressions of the others.... Kirsty and I decided at 1am to go out. Had a great random night and leave town until we had been kicked out everywhere due to the late time of hour.  

        The next day most of us went up in the gondola. They even tried to make that into a tourist attraction by having a photographer make photo's of you when you stepped into it. So ridiculous, that I decided to pretend to stick two fingers up my nose and look as stupid as I could. The view up the top was brilliant. There was also a giftshop in which I spend my time trying on the most ridiculous hats and take photo's of it. Even pretending to be attacked by a kiwi (bird). Back down at the bottom I pretended to really like that photo (for only???35dollars). How could she think I was serious, you should've seen the photo!  We ate the biggest burger ever that afternoon. That night we ate a TimTam slam, and for those unfamiliar with this, I made an instruction video that I can show you at home!

Christmas day was fantastic! We had a cooked breakfast and had lunch near the lake. I dressed up for the occasion, because otherwise it would've felt like normal weekday. In the afternoon we made a 3hour walk to Mt Cook. Kirsty and I had promised to make Christmas dinner, so we did! After dinner we had our Secret Santa dropping in. Sue handed out our gifts and I think I got the best gift every. Yes, secret santa (I still don't know who) gave me one of those silly kiwi hats. Couldn't think of a better present so cymbolise this holiday:) I had two presents for the one I had, but unfortunately for him, he took the 'fake' present seriously as well. It was hilarious for me and one friend who knew about it.

The day they had earthquakes in Christchurch we stayed there that night. Half of the city was closed off due to safety reasons. That night when half of us went out we felt a 4.4. I high fived another groupmember, because earlier that day I said that I'd never felt one and wanted to be able to tick it off that night. While everyone else went back to the hostel, Kisrty and I had another long random night out.

On the 27th I made this great coastal walk in Kaikoura. The next day we were suppose to go to Nelson, but due to flooding and mudslides we couldn't reach te place and had to stay a night at a horrible 28 bed dorm in a hostel in Picton. It was called Aquarium... well Yes, too many fish in one small bowl!

Because of the flooding we had a really early start the next morning to try to reach Nelson via a backroad. There we went on a Abel Tasman Sail and Kayak trip, that I thoroughly enjoyed! Unfortunately Chrissie failed to hide her pubic hair... not nice!

In Wellington we went to the central point of New Zealand, of ofcourse this point had to be on the top of a mountain.... That night we celebrated NY Eve in Whakapapa (pronounced as fakapapa). With a small group we sat around a table, had wistles and acted stupid. I never had such a boring NY before. According to the woman, who I call the vinigar woman, there was this massive party going on on NY... hmmm it's all about perception.  The next day most of us did the Tongariro Crossing, but I wasn't in any shape to do it. It wasn't the alcohol, just that I come from a flat country...

In Rotorua we experienced a cultural evening. Not very special, more like having dinner and watching a theatre piece between meals.

Waitomo we did blackwaterrafting and Luk and I went Night abseiling. I've never been surrounded by so many glow worms. A sight I'll never forget. The last two days we spent on a boat called the Rock. It was relaxing, walking on the shore, snorkeling, kayaking with glowing algae. Best of all was playing pool, during rough weather conditions. You'll just have to see the video, hilarious!

It was sad having to say goodbye to most of them after the trip, but I'l know I'll meet up with most of them again. With half of the group we went out for dinner that night in Auckland. The next day, for of us went canyoning. The climb up the mountain in wetsuits was pure hell, but it was all worth it in the end! Luk, Kirsty, Sue (guide) and I stayed at the same hostel and also spent that weekend together. Kirsty and I went to Waiheke on Sunday and spent our day walking, since we couldn't hire a scooter. I loved every sight and every minute. That evening we had our last meal with Luk.

The next morning (monday) Kirsty and I went with Sue and her new group back to Paihia. There were two seats free on her new group, so we were able to use this ride. We arrived on monday and did a group trip on Tuesday. We went up to Cape Reinga, went along the 90 miles beach, had a short stop in a rainforrest and best of all we went sandboarding! We went out that night and went back to Auckland with Sue and her new group the next day. That afternoon I did the bridgeclimb, since I had already done the only other two bridges. Thai for dinner and thai for my goodbye lunch. Luckily I'll see her again too at my farewell party in Sydney.

It was an amazing funfilled trip! Too many things happened. Too many funny short stories. Too many adventures. Rainy grey weather, but also aqua blue skies;)